Tubular connector having spring retaining means



July 6, 1965 A. MORRIS 3,193,309

TUBULAR CONNECTOR HAVING SPRING RETAINING MEANS Filed Feb. 13, 1961 2.Sheets-Sheet 1 INV EN TOR. ARTHUR Mame/s OER/AN 6. BLACK/1AM A TTORNEY?y 1965 I r A. MORRIS 3,193,309

TUBULAR CONNECTOR HAVING SPRING RETAINING MEANS Filed Feb. 13, 1961.FZZ'G. 6.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I FZmaZ F722;. 12. x-wa' 5 [/4 mmvron ARTHUR Mom/5OER/Au & BLACK/14M ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofifice ild idfiFatented July 6, 1965 3.193139% TUBULAR CGNNECTOR HAVING SPRHNGRETAhiiNG hlEANS Arthur Morris, 2812 Waverly Drive, Los Angeles, Calif.Filed Feb. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 88,856 3 Claims. (Cl. 285-27) Thisinvention pertains to new and improved con nectors or plugs, each ofwhich includes a socket and an adapter designed so as to be normallysecured within the socket with which it is used.

Devices of this general character are normally em ployed so as toelectrically connect individual electrical conductors within completeelectrical cables, wires or conduits. A great many different types ofelectrical connectors or plugs have been developed and used in the past.Although such prior devices have, as a class, been acceptable tor theirintended purposes and uses, as a class these prior devices have notproved desirable for many present day applications.

At the present time electrical connectors or plugs are frequentlysubjected to severe or extreme vibrations for a prolonged period. Theymay also be subjected to an immersion in water, and they are frequentlyused under hazardous dust or other conditions. To be acceptable at thepresent time an electrical connector or plug must be capable of beingsatisfactorily employed without danger of malfunction under virtuallyall of these and other related different conditions. More than this,however, a connector or plug to be acceptable at the present time mustbe constructed in such a manner that it is comparatively inexpensive tomanufacture and it must be constructed in such a manner that it may beeasily and conveniently used with a mimimum of diificulty.

A broad object of the present inventionis to provide new and improvedconnectors or plugs including a socket and an adapter adapted to be usedwith such a socket, which connectors meet the aforegoing and variousrelated requirements for acceptability. A related object of thisinvention is to provide devices of this type which overcome many of thelimitations and disadvantages of prior connectors or plugs such as arebriefly indicated in the preceding discussion.

These and various other objects of this invention, as well as manyspecific advantages of it will be more fully apparent from a detailedconsideration of the remainder of this specification, the appendedclaims and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector of thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view, taken at line 2-2 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 3-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3 showing thepositions of various parts of the connector indicated in the precedingfigures in a released position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a bushing used in the connector shown inthe preceding figures;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a spring utilized in a connector asshown in FIGS. 1 through 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified spring capa- 'ble of beingused in place of the spring shown in FIG. 6 in the connector shown inFIGS. 1 through 4;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a modified connector of thisinvention, this view being broken away so as to show part of thisconnector in section;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the part of the connectorshown in section in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a spring employed in the modifiedconnector shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a perspective View of another spring capable of beingemployed in the connector shown in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional View taken at line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

The accompanying drawings are primarily intended to clearly illustrateseveral presently preferred forms or embodiments of this invention.Connectors or plugs as herein described need not be formed precisely asillustrated in this drawing in order to utilize the essential featuresor principles of this invention since various changs of a routine designor engineering nature may be made in the preferred connectors shownwithout affecting the manner in which these connectors operate.

As an aid to understanding this invention it can be be stated inessentially summary form that it concerns connectors or plugs, each ofwhich utilizes a socket part having an open end and an adapter partwhich is intended to be inserted and secured within the open end of thesocket part. With a connector of this invention seal means as heinafterdescribed are utilized between the portions of the socket and adapterparts which are adapted to fit together and spring means are employed inorder to lock the socket and adapter parts with respect to one another.lFur-ther, release means are provided for rendering such spring meansinoperative for their intended purpose so that the socket and connectorparts may be disengaged trom one another. Also a connector of thisinvention preferably utilizes holding structures which are adapted tosecure cables or wires or the like to the socket and adapter partsemployed in such a manner that a seal around these secured members iscreated and in such a manner that forces applied to them are transmittedto the parts to which they are attached.

The actual details of this invention will be more fully apparent from adetailed consideration of the remainder of this specification, includingthe appended claims and the accompanying drawings. In the drawings thereis shown a complete connector or plug 10 of the present inventionemploying a socket part 12 and an adapter part 14. These parts 12 and 14are secured to electrical conduits l6, and are utilized in order toelectrically connect individual conductors 18 within these conduits 16.

The socket part 12 includes a generally cylindrical body 20 and ahousing cap 22 including a cylindrical skirt 23 which is attached to thebody 20 by means of threads 24. The housing cap 22 includes a top wall 26 having a centrally located opening 28 formed in it. This opening 28 issurrounded by an annular shoulder -30 which has a sloping surface 32which slopes generally away from the opening 28. An internal-1y taperedcylindrical neck 34 is formed upon the wall 26 so as to be locatedconcentrically around the opening 28 and so as to extend from the wall26 at the outer edge of the surface 32. This neck 34 is attached to acylindrical skirt 36 of a retainer cap 38 by means of threads 40. Thetop 42 of the cap 38 is provided with a centrally located circularopening 44 which is normally spaced from the end of the neck 34 acomparatively short distance.

A rigid cylindrical sleeve 46 fitting closely within the interior of theneck 34 normally bears against the top 42 and against an elastom-ericsleeve 48. This sleeve 48 may be conveniently formed out of neoprene,rubber or various other equivalent materials. Preferably it fits closelywithin the interior of the neck 34 so that one end of it bears againstthe sloping surface 32. If desired, the outer surface of the sleeve 48(not separately numbered) may be tapered slightly so that the end of thesleeve 48 adjacent to the surface 32 is of smaller dimension than theother end of the sleeve.

The entire structure formed upon the top wall 26 may be considered aholding means which is, as referred to be tightened down upon the neck34. As this occurs'the sleeve 46 is, of course, pushed against thesleeve 4%. i The pressure applied to the sleeve 48 then causes thissleeve to expand inwardly against a substantial area on the exterior ofthe conduit 16. The tapered outer configuration of the sleeve 48 isconsidered to facilitate this inward expansion.

Such engagement between the exterior of the conduit 16 and the sleeve 48forms a water-tight seal between these two parts. This engagment servesan additional function. The sleeve 48 when so expanded engages asufiicient amount of surface of the conduit 16 so as to essentially holdthis conduit 16 in such a manner that as tension is applied to it thistension is transmitted directly to the housing cap 22 instead of beingtransmitted through the conductors 18. This is considered to beimportant inasmuch as these conductors are relatively weak and are notcapable of withstanding the full effect of the forces which may beapplied between a conductor and a complete connector or plug or any partof it.

It is considered significant that these results are achieved with thepresent invention without damaging the exterior of the conduit 16.Because of its comparatively soft, resilient character, the sleeve 48 iscapable of firmly engaging the exterior of the conduit 16 so as toachieve the above results without biting into or otherwise deforming theconduit 16 in a detrimental manner. It is also considered significantthat in this type of srtuct'ure no forces are applied against the sleeve43 which would tend to twist it in a manner which might cause it to betorn or broken. This is because as the retainer cap 38 is twisted therigid sleeve 46 slides against the interior of this cap 38 and does nottransmit forces to the sleeve 48 which would cause this sleeve to betwisted around the conduit 16 in a detrimental manner. As a consequenceof this a sleeve 48 may be reused many times, and does not tend to breakup within the neck 34.

Within the socket part 12 the individual conductors 18 within theconduit 16 are attached in a known manner to metal terminals 50 mountedupon a disc-like diof hardware adapted to establish conventionalelectrical connection between individual conductors 18 in the conduits16. 1

In the connector or plug the body 20 contains an internal cylindricalrecess 61 which is adapted to hold the insert 52. This insert 52 may besecured in place through the use of an appropriate, conventionaladhesive (not shown); other equivalent mechanical means may be employedfor the same purpose. In this connector 10 the body 20 includes aninternal beveled or tapered electric insert 52. This insert 52 holdsmetal sockets 56 2 shoulder 62 which diverges away from a surface of the3 insert 52 generally toward a normally open end 64 of this body 20. Thebody 20 is also provided with an internal cylindrical surface 66 whichleads from this end 64 toward shoulder 62; a continuous annular groove68 is located so as to extend around the interior of the surface 66between the end 64 and the shoulder 62.

This groove 68 is adapted to holdan outwardly extially extremely simple.

wardly from the flange 76 so as to terminate at a lower edge 74 ofsmaller diameter than the remainder of the spring. It will also be seenthat the spring 72 includes longitudinally extending edges 76 which arelocated at an acute angle to one another so that the extremities ofthese edges 76 adjacent to the edge 74 are closer to one another thanare the other extremities of these edges 76.

During the use of the complete connector 10 the edge 74 of the spring 72engages a small external flange '78 formed upon a body 80 of the adapterpart 14. This body 89 is of a generally cylindrical shape and isprovided with a tapered extremity 82 having a shape corresponding to theshape of the shoulder 62. When the flange 78 is engaged by the edge 74of the spring 72 this extremity 82 is held against the shoulder 62 asshown in FIG. 2 of the drawing. In this position a small elastomericring 84 is held under compression within an annular groove 86 formed inthe extremity 82 between the shoulder 62 and this extremity 82. When theadapter part 14 is not in use the ring 84 normally extends from theextremity 82. This ring 84 preferably is a common elastomeric O-ringformed out of'natural or synthetic rubber or therlike; it may also'beformed of another equivalent shape.

Upon the exterior of the body 86 of the adapter part 14 remote from theextermity 82 there is located a cylindrical bushing 38 which is capableof being slid along the exterior of this body 80. If desired, thisbushing may be provided with a terminal flange 96 so as to facilitateits being engaged as the socket and adapter parts 12 and 14 in theconnector 10 are being disengaged from one another. Such disengagementis more fully describhd subsequently in this specification.

The insert 58 previously described is secured within the body 89 in thesame manner in which the insert 52 is secured within the body 20. Whenthis is done the terminals 60 upon it are located within another housingcap 22 forming a part of the adapter part 14. This other housing cap ispreferably formed in the identical manner as the housing cap 22previously described. For this reason various parts of the housing capsand various parts used in conjunction with them which are the same asparts previously indicated are not separately described herein and aredesignated in the drawings by the numerals previously used to designatesuch parts. From a consideration of the drawing it will be realized thatone of the conduits 16 is held'by each of the housing caps 22.

The use of the complete connector or plug 10 is essen- When thisconnector 10 is to be used the conduits 16 are 7 attached to the socketand adapter parts, 12 and 14, as previously indicated. These parts 12and 14 may then be attached to one another by simply sliding theextremity 82 through the end 64 and applying only a moderate amount ofpressure to the parts 12 and 14 so as to place the ring 84 undercompression and so as to seat the extremity 82 against the shoulder 62.As this is being done the spring 72 will be engaged by the extremity 82since the portion of the extremity 82 adjacent to the flange 78 is oflarger diameter than the edge 74 of the spring 72. Such engagement willtemporarily expand the spring 72, and then as motion of the extremity 82toward the socket part 12 continues this spring 72 will snap over theend of the extremity 82 onto the flange 7 8. .In this position thespring firmly latches the adapter part 14 in contact with the socketpart 12 so as to firmly secure these parts to one another in such amanner that the ring 84 forms a water-tight seal between these twoparts, preventing moisture or the like from entering the region betweenthe inserts 52 and 58. In this position the parts 12 and 14 are lockedtogether so as to be capable of withstanding extreme amounts ofvibration. The particular shape of the spring 72 utilized is consideredto be advantageous in withstanding such vibration. It is considered tobe substantially impossible for the spring 72 shown to vibrate in such amanner as to disengage the flange 78. The inherent resiliency of thering 34 is considered to aid in maintaining contact between the flange78 and edge 74 of the spring 72 at all times by tending to push the body88 in a direction in which such contact is maintained. When the spring72 is used as herein described it is capable of effectively transmittingforces between the socket and adapter parts 12 and 14.

When it is desired to disconnect the socket and adapter parts 12 and 14the bushing 88 is merely forced toward the spring 72 so as to slidewithin the interior of this spring, deforming this spring outwardly awayfrom the flange 78. When the spring 72 is temporarily deformed in thismanner the adapter part 14 may be easily withdrawn from the socket part12. Deformation of the spring 72 as the parts 12 and 14; are beingdisengaged is facilitated by enlarging the diameter of the springthrough the use of a wedged shaped protrusion 2 on the exterior of thebushing 88. This protrusion 92 contains side edges 94 which are adaptedto fit against the edges 76 as the bushing 88 is moved toward theextremity 82 in order to force the edges 76 apart, efiectively enlargingthe entire diameter of the spring 72.

Preferably a small alignment notch hit is provided in the periphery ofthe flange 70. This notch 91 is engaged by a pin 95 mounted on the body26 so as to extend along the surface 66, and serves to prevent rotationof the spring 72 so that the protrusion 92 is aligned with the edges 76when the bushing 88 is in a position to be moved into contact with thisspring.

It is normally preferred to incorporate within the complete connector inmeans for assuring alignment of the socket and adapter parts 12 and 14when these parts are being secured to one another. Although such meansmay merely consist of markings (not shown) on the peripheries of thesocket and adapter parts it is normally preferred to utilize with theinvention parts which mechanically insure alignment during assembly.Such parts are the pin 96 and the notch 98 shown in the drawing. Thispin 96 is mounted upon the adapter part 14 so as to eX- tend from it andso as to fit within a notch 98 within the interior of the socket part12. With this construction an elongated slot 1 02 is provided in thebushing 88 so as to permit movement of this bushing as previouslydescribed. Various other equivalent mechanical means (not shown) can beemployed so as to achieve the same alignment objectives.

In order to'prevent accidental movement of the bushing 88 towards thespring 72 it is preferred to have the body 89 sufliciently long so thatthe bushing 90 can be withdrawn so that the pin 95 is located outside ofthe slot 1&2. When this is done the bushing 83 can be rotated so thatthe pin 96 hits against the end of this bushing 88. in this position thebushing d8 cannot engage the spring 72.

In FIG. 7 of the drawings there is shown a spring 95 which may beemployed in the connector 10 instead of the spring 72 previouslydescribed. This spring 96 includes an upper, flat terminal or end flange98 of a split ring character and a plurality of equally spaced resilientfingers 1110. When the spring 96 is employed the flange 93 is shapedwithin the groove 63 in the connector 10 so that these fingers 190extend inwardly from it and converge generally towards the interior ofthe socket part 12. Thus, the fingers 10% extend in the same generalmanner as the principal portion of the spring 72.

In a connector such as the connector 10 the spring 96 serves in the samegeneral manner as the spring 72. Hence, the use of this spring 96 is notseparately discussed in this specification. it is noted, however, that aprotrusion such as the protrusion 92 need not be employed when thespring 95 is used inasmuch as the spring 96 contains no edgescorresponding to the edges 76 for such a protrusion to engage.

In FIG. 8 of the drawing there is shown a modified connector 110 of thepresent invention which is the same as the connector 10 previouslydescribed except in certain regards as are set forth in thisspecification. For this reason various parts of the connector 110 whichare the same as, or substantially the same as corresponding parts of theconnector 10 are not separately identified herein, and are designatedboth in this specification and in the accompanying drawings by theprimes of the numerals previously used to designate such parts. Furthervarious internal parts of the connector 110 which are the same asvarious internal parts of the connector 10 are not separately shown inthe drawings and are not described herein.

The connector 110 diifers from the connector 10 in the construction ofthe spring 112 utilized in it so as to secure the socket and adapterparts 12 and 14' to one another. In the connector 110 the spring 112having a shape as illustrated in FIG. 10 of the drawings is utilizedinstead of the spring 72 previously described. This spring 112 fitswithin a groove 68 which corresponds to the groove 68, but which is oflarger dimension than the groove 68. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 of thedrawings the spring 112 has a flat bottom 114 which is located adjacentto the side 116 of the groove 68 adjacent to the beveled or taperedshoulder 52 within the interior of the connector 110. This spring 112also has a cylindrical periphery 118 located adjacent to, but spacedfrom the bottom 12 9 of the groove 68. This spring 112 also has atapered internal surface 122 which is tapered so as to extend ingenerally the same direction as the shoulder 62.

This surface 122 is located adjacent to the end 124 of the bushing 88'remote from the flange This end 124 is preferably provided with acomparatively small tapered surface 126 which corresponds inconfiguration to the surface 122. The spring 112 preferably alsoincludes an internal flange 128 located on the extremity of the surface122 adjacent to the bottom 114 of the spring 112. The flange 128 in theembodiment of the spring 112 illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 of thedraw ings is of a generally rectangular configuration and corresponds inshape to the shape of a groove 130 formed in the periphery of the body80.

The spring 112 operates in substantially the same mannor as the spring72 previously described. This spring 112 is of a split ring characterand is provided with longitudinally extending edges 76' corresponding tosimilar edges 76 on the spring 72. The spring 112 is convenientlylocated within the groove 68 by bringing these edges 76 together andsnapping the spring 112 in place. When it is snaped in place the adapterand connector parts 12. and 14 may be secured to one another in the samemanner in which the parts 12 and 14 are secured together. These parts12' and 14' may similarly be released from one another by forcing thebushing 88 toward the socket part 12. This brings the surface 126 intoengagement with the surface 122 and causes the spring 112 to be expandedso that the flange 128 disengages the groove 130. At this point thesocket and adapter parts 12' and 14' may be easily pulled away from oneanother.

The connector 116 may utilize a protrusion (not shown) corresponding tothe protrusion 92 previously described for the purpose of engaging theedges 76' although such a protrusion need not be used in this connector110. In the connector the spring 112 may be replaced by other springshaving different shapes than this specific spring 112. As an example ofthis a spring 134 shown in FIG. 11 of the drawings may be employed inthe same manner as the spring 112. Since various parts of the spring 134are identical or substantially identical to the corresponding parts ofthe spring 112, these parts are not separately described herein, and aredesignated in the accompanying drawing by the primes of the numeralspreviously used to designate corresponding parts of the spring 112. Froma consideration of the drawings it will be realized that a spring 134does not employ a separate flange 128, but instead the extremity of thesurface 122 and the bottom 114' join together so as to serve together asa flange.

Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains will realizethat connectors or plugs as herein described and as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings may be easily and conveniently manufactured at acomparatively reasonable or nominal cost. They will also realize thatthese connectors or plugs may be easily and conveniently used wheneverdesired with a minimum amount of difiiculty in either connecting ordisconnecting individual conduits, wires or the like. Because of thenature of this invention and the fact that various features of it can beemployed in various different devices which differ from the preciseconnector 10 illustrated in thedrawing and described herein as toappearance, various constructional details or the like, this inventionis to be considered as being limited solely by the appended claimsforming a part of this disclosure.

I claim: 1. A connector which includes: a socket part having an open endand a shoulder tapered inwardly from said end; an adapter part adaptedto fit within said open end or said socket part, said adapter partincluding a tapered extremity conforming to the configuration of saidtapered shoulder and a flange extending around said adapter part; springmeans for holding said adapter part within said socket parts so as tohold said tapered extremity against said tapered shoulder by engagingsaid flange on said adapter part when said adapter part is locatedwithin said end of said socket part, said spring means being secured tosaid socket part adjacent to said open end and extending toward theinterior of said socket part and towards said tapered shoulder from saidend of said socket part, said spring means being of a slit-ringcharacter and including edges leading between the ends thereof, saidedges being formed so that the extremity of said edges adjacent to saidtapered shoulder are closer together than the other extremities of saidedges adjacent to the other end of said spring means held by said socketpart so that the diameter of said spring means adjacent said taperedshoulder is less than the diameter of said spring means held by saidsocket part;

means for preventing rotation of said spring means with respect to saidsocket part;

alignment means extending between said adapter part and said open end ofsaid socket part to insure alignment of said parts;

release sleeve means including wedge means for engaging said edges ofsaid spring means between the ends thereof so as to increase thediameter of said spring means and move said spring means out ofengagement with said flange on said adapter part,

' ;said release sleeve'means being movably mounted on said adapter part;and

guide means on said release sleeve means for guiding said release sleevemeans so that said wedge means 'will engage said edges of said springmeans when said release sleeve means is moved on said adapted parttowards said socket part.

2. A connectoras defined in claim 1 wherein said alignment meanscomprises: a pin mounted on said adapter part and a notch on said socketpart, said pin fitting within said notch.

3. A connector as defined in claim 2 wherein said guide means comprises:a slot formed in said release sleeve means, said pin extending throughsaid slot.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 45,619 12/64Lavery 285-421 239,827 4/81 Newman 285-319 991,374 5/11 Rolle 285-3191,587,079 6/26 Machino 285-317 1,882,856 10/32 Mauer 339-103 2,318,9655/43 Parker et al 285-277 X 2,454,838 11/48 Richardson et al. 339-1032,448,725 9/48 Morris 339-9121 2,465,197 3/49 Chatham 285-317 2,523,9959/50 Parmesan 285332.3 2,761,111 8/56 Klostermann 339-91 2,762,025 9/ 56Melcher 339-143 2,775,745 12/56 Eaton 339-91 2,944,840 7/60 Wiltse285-321 2,950,132 8/60 Kocsuta 285-321 FOREIGN PATENTS 625,022 6/49Great Britain. 273,063 7 5 51 Switzerland.

CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH'D. SEERS, Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3,193,309 July 6, 1965 Arthur Morris It is hereby certified that errorappears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that theseid Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 7, line 28, for "or" read of Signed and sealed this 30th day ofNovember 1965.

(SEAL) Atlest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. A CONNECTOR WHICH INCLUDES: A SOCKET PART HAVING AN OPEN END AND ASHOULDER TAPERED INWARDLY FROM SAID END; AN ADAPTER PART ADAPTED TO FITWITHIN SAID OPEN END OR SAID SOCKET PART, SAID ADAPTER PART INCLUDING ATAPERED EXTREMITY CONFORMING TO THE CONFIGURATION OF SAID TAPEREDSHOULDER AND A FLANGE EXTENDING AROUND SAID ADAPTER PART; SPRING MEANSFOR HOLDING SAID ADAPTER PART WITHIN SAID SOCKET PARTS SO AS TO HOLDSAID TAPERED EXTREMITY AGAINST SAID TAPERED SHOULDER BY ENGAGING SAIDFLANGE ON SAID ADAPTER PART WHEN SAID ADAPTER PART IS LOCATED WITHINSAID END OF SAID SOCKET PART, SAID SPRING MEANS BEING SECURED TO SAIDSOCKET PART ADJACENT TO SAID OPEN END AND EXTENDING TOWARD THE INTERIOROF SAID SOCKET PART AND TOWARDS SAID TAPERED SHOULDER FROM SAID END OFSAID SOCKET PART, SAID SPRING MEANS BEING OF A SLIT-RING CHARACTER ANDINCLUDING EDGES LEADING BETWEEN THE ENDS THEREOF, SAID EDGES BEINGFORMED SO THAT THE EXTREMITY OF SAID EDGES ADJACENT TO SAID TAPEREDSHOULDER ARE CLOSER TOGETHER THAN THE OTHER EXTREMITIES OF SAID EDGESADJACENT TO THE OTHER END OF SAID SPRING MEANS HELD BY SAID SOCKET PARTSO THAT THE DIAMETER OF SAID SPRING MEANS ADJACENT SAID TAPERED SHOULDERIS LESS THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID SPRING MEANS HELD BY SAID SOCKET PART;MEANS FOR PREVENTING ROTATION OF SAID SPRING MEANS WITH RESPECT TO SAIDSOCKET PART; ALIGNMENT MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID ADAPTER PART ANDSAID OPEN END OF SAID SOCKET PART TO INSURE ALIGNMENT OF SAID PARTS;RELEASE SLEEVE MEANS INCLUDING WEDGE MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID EDGES OFSAID SPRING MEANS BETWEEN THE ENDS THEREOF SO AS TO INCREASE THEDIAMETER OF SAID SPRING MEANS AND MOVE SAID SPRING MEANS OUT OFENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FLANGE ON SAID ADAPTER PART, SAID RELEASE SLEEVEMEANS BEING MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID ADAPTER PART; AND GUIDE MEANS ONSAID RELEASE SLEEVE MEANS FOR GUIDING SAID RELEASE SLEEVE MEANS SO THATSAID WEDGE MEANS WILL ENGAGE SAID EDGES OF SAID SPRING MEANS WHEN SAIDRELEASE SLEEVE MEANS IS MOVED ON SAID ADAPTED PART TOWARDS SAID SOCKETPART.